September Snow! 1st 'winter' training run of the season in Boulder County (pictures)

My digital camera | Thursday September 7th, 2006 | ajolympian2004

[ajolympian2004]

I was up in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area (Brainard Lake) today for my afternoon training run about 5 miles west of Ward, Colorado which is about 12 miles WNW of Boulder. As I turned off of Peak to Peak highway (Colorado State HWY 72) onto the road leading upto Brainard Lake I immediately noticed cars coming down that were covered with a few inches of snow. A few miles west towards the trailhead were my training run was to start it was snowing, lightning and thundering. There was about 3 to 4 inches of heavy wet snow everywhere. Here are some pictures -

Near the Brainard Lake entrance, 9500 ft.

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Looking out from my 4Runner at 10,000 ft. across Brainard Lake towards the mountain peaks that mark the Continental Divide

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Nearing the trailhead for my training run

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Driving around the lake towards the trailhead

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Looking back at 13,000+ ft. Mt. Audobon after my training run in the snow

I thought it was going to be in the mid-50's with light rain / drizzle so I was wearing only my running shorts and typical white t-shirt. Luckily I had gloves and winter hat in my backpack to make the run in the cold and snow tolerable.

Brrr... was good to get home for some hot soup and crackers.

[cripplecreek]

Cool photos but I think I'll hold off on the snow for as long as I can.

[RightWhale]

Fairbanks had frost for the seventh time this season, but temperatures are 35-65 every day and little precip. Snow wouldn't be coming here to stay for another month most likely.

[VOA]

Got any meterological data on "day of first snowfall" for that area?

It sure would be interesting to check that.

[ajolympian2004]

The Trail Ridge Road in Rocky National Park up in Larmier County had to be closed last weekend because of snowfall. I think they had it plowed in a few hours and reopened shortly thereafter.

It's rare, but possible to get snow at anytime in the high country here in Colorado during the summer. Back in the early 90's there was snowfall on July 4th somewhere in Colorado above 12,000 ft.

[Guenevere]

I've been up Trail Ridge one time..and never want to do it again, LOL.

That road scared me!!!!

[MrEdd]

Glad you had your camera. I love the mountains.

Pretty pictures ping.

[Captiva]

Nasty.








Does anyone have any pictures of Miami Beach or Malibu?

[PistolPaknMama]

it was snowing, lightning and thundering

That is kind of awesome....like a mythical battle between summer and winter. Here in South Carolina leaves are just giving up their bright green for a tinge of yellow. If I get even one picture similar to yours this year, it will be in another 4-5 months.

[ajolympian2004]

On the journey for the opportunity to make the USA Olympic team in 2008 a typical runner encounters all kinds of weather. It toughens the mind and for people like me I go from an emotional well-being of 9.5 out of 10 to a 10 out of 10. It's an endorphin rush that can't be explained, only experienced.

Running in unexpected weather reminds me of a story a running friend told me a while back.

In New Jersey there was this runner who logged 6 to 10 miles every single morning. A neighbor moved in who was also into running and asked if he could tag along a few times a week. They never said a word to each other during those early runs together.

Then came a cool rainy morning. The neighbor new to the area showed up on time to begin that morning run. That proved to the other runner that this guy is for real and will not make an excuse for not showing up and that he could be counted on. From that day on they talked about every subject under the sun during their subsequent training runs together and became great friends.

As I train here in Boulder, and Boulder County, during the fall, winter and spring (the time of weather conditions that can be really extreme here) I'm always thinking of the other athletes indoors running on their treadmills all cozy and comfortable, while I'm out doing the real 'dirty' work that will give me a better opportunity of achieving success.

[ajolympian2004]

Yeah, there are a couple of places along Trail Ridge Road where if you were to veer a few yards left or a few yards right your vehicle would roll over and over a few hundred times and fall a total of at least a thousand feet or so.

The history of Trail Ridge Road -
http://www.nps.gov/archive/romo/visit/weather/history.html

[Guenevere]

I enjoyed reading post#10......Bless you, I hope you win!!
..You're certainly dedicated!...

Are you a Colorado native, or transplanted there to work on your Olympic dream?

And thanks for the history of Trail Ridge...
I didn't know this...

..My husband had a yen to drive to the top....I was shaking in my boots.....I actually kept my eyes closed the whole time :^)

[dfwgator]

Al Gore is deeply saddened.

[ajolympian2004]

Yep, I experience 'global freezing' on a late summer day here in Colorado. Add that to the lastest hurricane in the Carribean that is now predicted to make a direct right turn to the north away from the USA mainland. He must be getting depressed by now.

[G8 Diplomat]

And some people think we caused global warming?! HAHAHAHAHAAAA...

[Dog]

Brrrrrrrrrrrr ping.

[uglybiker]

Does anyone have any pictures of Miami Beach or Malibu?

Sure!

Here ya go!

Next time, be a little more specific.

[MozartLover]

Wow! Beautiful snow pictures!

Thanks for the ping!

[ajolympian2004]

Originally from the Cincinnati, Ohio area, Sharonville more specifically. I've been in Colorado since 1990.